Israel Should Stop Relying on One American Ally, Column Argues

A Hebrew opinion piece argues that the main lesson from the recent campaign against Iran is that Israel cannot base its foreign policy on one person or one political camp in the United States. It says the Trump administration’s approach left Israelis disappointed, and that even strong personal ties between leaders do not guarantee aligned interests once those interests diverge.

The article recalls that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu long knew how to work both sides of Washington. When his ties with President Barack Obama were strained, he still had deep support among Republicans and in Congress, which helped him challenge the White House during the 2015 fight over the Iran nuclear deal. By contrast, Israel later placed a great deal of hope in Donald Trump’s return to the White House, assuming a Republican president would give it more freedom of action. Early on, the partnership appeared to work, especially at the start of the Iran campaign, but the column says foreign policy follows interests, not personal friendship.

The writer says Israel has concentrated too much of its diplomatic capital in one basket and now has limited leverage in Washington. Its ties with much of the Democratic Party have worsened, and it avoids becoming involved in internal Republican disputes between the neoconservative and evangelical wings and the MAGA isolationist camp. At the same time, the prolonged war has weakened Israel’s standing in parts of Europe and the wider West. The piece warns that, like a prudent investor, Israel must spread its risk.

The proposed answer is not to distance Israel from the United States, but to deepen and preserve that alliance while rebuilding ties with moderate Democrats. The article also urges expanding regional and international partnerships, citing India, Greece, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Somaliland. It says Israel should also engage flexible local partners in Syria, including Kurds, Druze and Alawites, to help contain jihadism linked to Jolani and backed by Erdogan. The column concludes that in a world of weaker international institutions and stronger regional alliances, Israel must abandon the idea that it is a “villa in the jungle” and instead build influence through diplomacy, culture, technology and a broad network of partners.